Loose impeller shaft

[sananvet]

Need some guidance folks. I’m in Stuart, FL this week on vacation with my 2019 210FSH. There is bad cavitation and rattling occurring with my port impeller. I have checked the clean out for debris and can’t find anything. The RPMs will fluctuate wildly with no apparent loss of power. The engine cutoff and would not restart for a few hours- would not turn over. Once restarted the rattle and cavitation continued. The only thing I can find amiss from deck side is the impeller shaft seems loose in the tube. I can wiggle it slightly. The starboard shaft is nice and tight. The edges of the impeller has quite a few roughs spots as well. Any thoughts? Is this dangerous to operate?

 

[Scottintexas]

the strangest part is why the motor wouldn't start for a few hours?

1. would it crank and not fire
2. did the starter not crank at all ?
3. did you not even hear a click from the starter/ECU when the key was engaged ?

Maybe something was caught in the impeller and it was creating enough drag to stop the engine from starting ??

Did something happen when the cavitation started? did you suck up a rope, bottle or gravel ? were you cruising along at 30mph and wham! cavitation issues ?

I would get the boat on the trailer and pull the impeller, it's only a 20 minute process and see how bad the impeller/wear ring are, maybe swap the impeller/shafts between the pumps to see if the wiggle follows the shaft to the other side or if the good shaft now wiggles,

since the shaft is wiggling I wouldn't operate it more than needed to diagnose a problem. we had a member with a 190 with a bad cone bearing maybe and the vibration ended it costing him an engine (if I'm remembering that thread correctly)


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[Scottintexas]

I know we have members in the Stuart area, if you're not comfortable doing the work maybe start a new thread with "Need Help in Stuart FL ASAP" and put this link in it and see if someone will respond,

 

[sananvet]

It would definitely click and the voltage would drop heavily when the ignition was turned. It did SEEM as if something was stuck in the impeller. However, I ran it again this morning after sitting overnight and the rattle continues with fluctuations in RPMs. The motor died while at low speed 5-6 mph and again would not restart.

 

[Scottintexas]

is the boat sitting in the water overnight or do you have it on a lift or trailer ?

If it's out of the water maybe there is wood or something stuck in the impeller, it dried overnight enough to start the engine and after being in the water it swelled up and then wouldn't let the engine start ??

anyways, I think you have to pull the impeller, if the shaft is wiggling I would run it more than necessary to diagnose,


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[sananvet]

It’s been moored. For 48 hours in saltwater. I’m thinking the impeller shaft being loose is causing it to hit the sleeve.

 

[Scottintexas]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/huge-power-loss.18306/post-409796

I wouldn't spend to much time reading about possible what ifs, until you pull the impeller/shaft to get a better idea of what is causing the "wiggling",

Have you ever pulled the impeller/shafts before ?
have you ever checked the cone bearings ?


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[Scottintexas]

also how long did the motor run before it died, seconds, minutes, miles ?

If you've got impeller vs. wear ring excess gap causing the wiggle I wouldn't think that would stall the engine out.

We've definitely see where ropes and wood get into the shaft impeller that will stall the engine.


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[sananvet]

It ran for about 15 minutes before stalling. It’s a pretty loud rattle and definitely cavitating

 

[sananvet]

I have never pulled an impeller. I’ve had the boat for about a year and a half while I’ve done some shade tree mechanic work on my Jeep I’ve been a little apprehensive about doing too much with the Yammie

 

[Scottintexas]

if you've done anything with the jeep you can pull the impeller easy,

https://jetboaters.net/faq/#faq-26

edited to add from the FAQ link

https://jetboaters.net/threads/yamaha-jet-pump-disassembly-from-grant-browne-youtube.446/

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[sananvet]

Awesome thanks! I guess I’ll put her on the trailer tomorrow and check it out. Still have 5 days of potential vacay/fishing left.

 

[Scottintexas]

and I might suggest once you get the impeller removed to start the engine and let it run for a minute (even without cooling water) to see if it has any unusual sounds or vibrations without the shaft/impeller,

 

[tdonoughue]

@Scottintexas is guiding you exactly correctly. And just to back him up on this: pulling the pump is as easy as it looks in the video. Easier, in fact. I didn't pull my pumps for years thinking it would be hard and when I ultimately did, found it was so simple I wondered why I didn't do it sooner for things stuck in the pump. The only hitch is that sometimes the shaft is a bit stuck in the boat and hard to get out (but you should not have that on a '19--that is usually on older boats).

While you have the pump out, take a pic of the impeller and inside of the wear ring for us...

 

[sananvet]

@Scottintexas is guiding you exactly correctly. And just to back him up on this: pulling the pump is as easy as it looks in the video. Easier, in fact. I didn't pull my pumps for years thinking it would be hard and when I ultimately did, found it was so simple I wondered why I didn't do it sooner for things stuck in the pump. The only hitch is that sometimes the shaft is a bit stuck in the boat and hard to get out (but you should not have that on a '19--that is usually on older boats).

While you have the pump out, take a pic of the impeller and inside of the wear ring for us...

Will do. I didn’t bring tools on this trip. We are 3 hours from home for the week. Unfortunately I have to idle over to the boat ramp later this week to trailer home.

 

[tdonoughue]

Ugh. Walmart nearby? Or anyone from whom you can borrow a tool for an hour? You really only need 1 socket wrench, extension and the right size socket...

 

[TOGA]

Need some guidance folks. I’m in Stuart, FL this week on vacation with my 2019 210FSH. There is bad cavitation and rattling occurring with my port impeller. I have checked the clean out for debris and can’t find anything. The RPMs will fluctuate wildly with no apparent loss of power. The engine cutoff and would not restart for a few hours- would not turn over. Once restarted the rattle and cavitation continued. The only thing I can find amiss from deck side is the impeller shaft seems loose in the tube. I can wiggle it slightly. The starboard shaft is nice and tight. The edges of the impeller has quite a few roughs spots as well. Any thoughts? Is this dangerous to operate?

Pull the cone o the impeller and check bearings. I had the rattle and cavitation in starboard drive and it turned out water had gotten in the cone and disintegrated the bearings. Glad I shut it down when I couldn't find debris in impeller but continued to hear the rattle.

Search my posts and see the pictures of the bearings that were destroyed.

 

[14SX190]

any updates?

 

[StanM]

Just a side note. I always have a water-tight toolbox on my boat at all times. You just never know...

 

[Scottintexas]

@sananvet any update on your issue ?